PEMRA confiscates thousands of illegal Indian devices

Issues show cause notices to license holders for violating PEMRA regulations

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) has been successfully running throughout the country its drive against Indian Direct-to-Home (DTH) devices, C-Line equipment, Indian channels and Indian content.

During this crackdown that has been continuing for two weeks, Pemra has impounded thousands of illegal equipment – C-Line receivers, low-noise block downconverters (LNBs), dish antennas and other related equipment, said a press release issued on Tuesday.
Pemra regional enforcement teams have carried out operations against Indian DTH and Indian content in various cities across Pakistan including Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Islamabad,

Rawalpindi, Multan,  Sheikhupura, Sargodha, Sahiwal, Bhera, Faisalabad, Chiniot, Wazirabad, Shorkot, Jhang, Nankana Sahib, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Khanewal, Rahim Yar Khan, Gujrat, Muzafargarh, D G Khan, Mian Channu, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Nawabshah, Jamshoro, Ghotki Mehrabpur, Khairpur, Nowshero Feroze, Gambhat, Dharki, , Swat, Hyderabad, Swabi, Abbotabad, Mardan, Quetta, Ziarat, and Zhob.

The authority has banned telecast of advertisements showing Indian actors and models on broadcast and distribution media. Perma has also issued show cause notices to license holders for violating Pemra regulations. In case of any violation of Pemra laws strict actions will be taken by the authority by imposing fines, cancellation of licences and registration of FIRs against the violators.

Efforts of Pemra field staff were appreciated by Pemra chairman. He asked them to continue the crackdown and enforcement drive more rigorously and effectively to completely eliminate grey market of Indian DTH and to ensure strict compliance of orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

He said proliferation of illegal Indian DTH is not only detrimental to the social, cultural and religious values of our society but is also causing huge financial loss to government exchequers.